Queensland Reds lock Angus Blyth looks forward to his favourite rugby day of the year when the NSW Waratahs arrive at Suncorp Stadium.
Saturday night will be a blockbuster because the performance of Australia’s four teams has taken a leap forward in SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific.
Average crowds and viewership are up. The fast-paced action, tight results and increased ball-in-play time are all contributors.
Come Round Five and Saturday night features the most traditional of rugby rivalries with the Reds and unbeaten Waratahs squaring off as they have done for more than a century.
“This interstate night. At Suncorp Stadium. This is obviously a game I look forward to every year,” Blyth said.
“It’s a massive rivalry built through the years and it’s pretty special to play it at home.”
Blyth and the Reds have Saturday night sharply in focus after splitting their two-game road trip with a win and loss against the Western Force and Crusaders.
The 43-19 loss to the Crusaders in Christchurch generated three excellent Reds tries but definite work-ons for this week.
“Just valuing our time with the ball more is a big one,” Blyth said.
“We’ll work on being a bit smarter with our judgement in certain parts of the field.
“Obviously, the Waratahs are doing really well. They are a star-studded side so we have to bring our A-Game on Saturday night.”
Blyth competes every week at training within the Reds roster of top locks, Ryan Smith, Josh Canham, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Connor Vest.
“The depth we have at lock is really good. Everyone wants to be a part of the game-day squad so that competition brings out the best in all of us,” Blyth said.
Blyth plays in a position where experience is hard-earned over time. He was a raw 20-year-old on debut in 2018. Now in his eighth season, his game has gone to a new level with last year’s elevation to the Wallabies.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt hit the right note with Blyth last year.
“I learnt a lot and a whole lot on the mental side. Joe speaks of getting into the mind gym and using it as an extra muscle,” Blyth said.
“Rehearsing the game and your role when not on the training field was something I worked on a lot more.
“Just being exposed to the highest level of the game, playing against the Springboks and so on, means you need to rise.
“Playing for your country is an honour. It gives you a confidence that you’re a pretty decent player. That does translate to backing yourself, getting out there and going for it.”
It’s a huge weekend of interstate rugby with the Reds women’s team taking on the NSW Waratahs at Ballymore Stadium on Sunday.
The Reds are coming off a superb 22-19 win over the Fijian Drua in Lautoka.
It took a massive team performance. A tackle completion rate above 90 per cent showed how much the players dug in for each other.
Co-captain Jemma Bemrose scooted clear for the opening try. Her workrate was immense with the Bond University flanker being recorded as making 18 tackles from 18 attempts.
Player-of-the-Match Shalom Sauaso used her leg drive to kick free of three would-be defenders to set up Carola Kreis for her try.
Eight strong carries in all and 12 tackles was a powerful effort from the teenager.
Queensland vs NSW is the feature match of the Super Rugby Women's regular season and Sunday should live up to the billing.
